What's available to watch on Netflix?

Netflix offers access to over 5,000 movies and 2,500 TV series on-demand. It's considered to be the largest streaming service in the world with over 277 million subscribers.

Films and shows on Netflix are available across a range of genres, including both older and newer releases.

Netflix is probably best known for their own content however, with Netflix Originals boasting some of the most talked about shows, as well as being entirely exclusive to the Netflix streaming platform.

Netflix originals

Netflix content tends to lean towards the thought provoking, often times shocking, dramas and documentaries, as well as sci-fi series.

This out of the box approach has gained Netflix its dedicated following as it's not possible to watch Netflix Originals content anywhere else.

Netflix Originals include stand out shows such as:

  • Wednesday
  • The Night Agent
  • Fool Me Once
  • The Queen's Gambit
  • Bridgerton
  • Stranger Things
  • The Umbrella Academy
  • Squid Games
  • Orange is the New Black
  • Black Mirror

Some of the most popular Netflix Original feature films include:

  • Beasts of No Nation
  • Leave the World Behind
  • The Platform
  • Gerald's Game
  • A Family Affair
  • The Killer
  • Rebel Moon
  • Damsel
  • The King
  • Don't Look Up

Netflix also offer exclusive documentaries, including titles such as:

  • The Vietnam War
  • Making a Murderer
  • Our Planet
  • Blackfish
  • Icarus
  • Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
  • My Octopus Teacher
  • Dirty Money
  • Fed Up
  • Tiger King

It's worth noting that as Netflix tends to display suggested films and shows based on previous viewings and likes, it can be easy to miss new content. It's often worth checking out lists on the best Netflix series, movies or documentaries to find out what you might be missing.

Which TV providers offer Netflix?

Netflix can now be combined into pay TV deals from a range of providers, including:

Each of these providers offer a TV set top box so people signing up don't need to have a smart TV or any other equipment in order to watch Netflix on their main TV screen.

In the comparison table above, it's possible to compare all of the deals available with Netflix included, as well as to sort the offers by price and whether you want any other channels too, such as Sky Atlantic or Sky Cinema.

It's worth noting that some providers are only available if a customer also takes their home broadband service. This is the case for Virgin Media, BT, and TalkTalk. However, while Sky TV is available as a standalone service, the discounts available for bundling Sky broadband are substantial.

Read our full guide to where to watch Netflix here.

How much does Netflix cost?

Netflix has three subscription options depending on the definition and how many devices you want to be able to watch Netflix at any one time.

  • Standard with Adverts: 1080p HD viewing on up to two devices at a time, with some adverts
  • Standard: 1080p HD viewing on up to two devices at a time, and no adverts
  • Premium: 4K HDR viewing on up to four devices at a time, and no adverts

Pay TV providers that bundle Netflix often offer one of these subscription levels by default, usually Standard with Adverts , with the option for customers to upgrade to the ad-free and higher definition options if they want to.

When Netflix is taken with a pay TV subscription it can often be cheaper than taking a Netflix subscription separately. In fact, some providers even include it at no extra cost. Use the table above to sort deals by price to find the cheapest ways to watch Netflix.

Can I share my Netflix account?

While it used to be common for people to share their Netflix accounts between family and friends, Netflix estimated around 100 million households were sharing a Netflix account before cracking down on the practice.

Since May 2023, Netflix has banned account sharing, and updated their terms that say an account is for use by one household only. Customers who share their Netflix account may now find themselves presented with account sharing confirmation screens on their TV.

Users connecting outside of a household may then be blocked from accessing the service, and users are instead offered Extra Member options for an extra £4.99 per month.

How can I watch Netflix on my TV?

As an online streaming platform, it's easy to watch Netflix via a mobile phone, tablet or laptop simply by going to netflix.com in a web browser.

For people who want to watch Netflix on their TV however the packages listed in the comparison table above all offer Netflix via their TV set top box, which makes it easy to view on a big screen.

It's also therefore more likely you'll be able to enjoy Netflix in HD or even 4K UHD with a HD or UHD compatible TV.

Minimum requirements for Netflix

As an online streaming service Netflix is reliant on a broadband connection for users to access its content. This applies even if Netflix is being streamed via a smart TV or smart TV stick, and even when it's taken with Sky Q.

Netflix say users will need a broadband speed of at least:

  • Full high definition (1080p): 5Mbps or higher
  • Ultra high definition (4K): 15Mbps or higher

Most people on either part or full fibre broadband deals will have a fast-enough connection, however anyone still on copper ADSL broadband may be limited to viewing Netflix in 720p or standard definition.

However, when pairing Netflix with a TV and broadband deal, providers including Sky and Virgin Media also have their own minimum speed requirements, with Sky requiring at least 25Mbps download speeds, and Virgin Media stating 50Mbps for their Stream service.

Is it worth adding Netflix to a pay TV deal?

As the biggest streaming service in the world, increasingly pay TV providers have started to bundle Netflix into their packages to keep their services competitive.

As a result, some providers are now beginning to include Netflix in their package at no extra cost to customers. This includes bundles from Sky, Virgin Media, BT, and TalkTalk.

These Netflix bundles can offer good savings over a separate subscription, although as always, this will depend on whether you would take the pay TV package anyway.

The Netflix TV comparison table above will display all of the options to combine Netflix with a pay TV, and broadband, bundle.

Compare Netflix TV deals in your area